World Cup winner to join RCB? Promising Players Mandhana and co could buy in WPL auction 2026

Smriti Mandhana for RCB and with India teammates (Source: AFP)

The retention list for the WPL 2026 has been released, and the 2024 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, have retained four players. It includes three capped Indians - Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and Shreyanka Patil, while Ellyse Perry is the only overseas star retained.

Thus, RCB have retained four quality players who provide different skillsets and would now be looking to build their team in the auction around them. So, in this article, we will look at the three players they can target in the upcoming WPL auction.

Deandra Dottin

Deandra Dottin is one of the fearsome hitters of the cricket ball in the women's game and is likely to be a hot asset in the auction. RCB have 6.15 crore in their kitty, and so they can afford to go after Dottin in the auction.

Deandra Dottin in Women T20Is

Dottin will provide the firepower in the middle order with the bat and can contribute four overs on most of the day. Also, she is a seamer, and as RCB have not retained any fast bowler, an all-rounder like her would help them in bringing more balance to the squad.

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Nadine de Klerk

Nadine de Klerk was one of the brightest stars for South Africa in the World Cup 2025 and is a genuine match-winner. She is a quality pacer who has the experience of bowling at the death, while with the bat, de Klerk can take the game away from the opposition with her power-hitting.

Nadine de Klerk in Women T20Is

Thus, she can be the finisher for RCB alongside Richa Ghosh and will provide Smriti Mandhana a pace-bowling option. Also, there are not many quality pace bowling options available among the Indian players. Therefore, RCB might find it tough to get a reliable pacer, and Nadine de Klerk can fill that gap for them.

Shree Charani

Shree Charani was one of the pillars of the Indian bowling attack in their victorious World Cup campaign. She picked wickets in almost all games and managed to keep the best of the batters quiet when other bowlers were struggling.

Shree Charani in Women T20Is

Also, the left-arm spinner has got off to a superb start in T20Is with 10 wickets in five matches. Charani also grabbed four wickets in two WPL matches she played for Delhi Capitals. Thus, Charani would add more bite to the RCB bowling unit and with Shreyanka already retained, the duo can take the franchise to great heights in the next season.

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